Gaudy Gals Give Back

WAITSBURG - For the past four years, Waitsburg has been home to a funky little vintage gift shop just inside The Old Town Hall. Gaudy Gals on Main opened in February of 2022. Owners Lori Davis and Kimi Bruzas created a beautifully curated space for locals and travelers to enjoy.

This past July, the owners announced the closure of their shop due to a lagging economy. The sisters took annual summer trips to Spokane and Seattle to hunt for vintage treasures for their shop.

"The cost of fuel has made our inventory trips cost prohibitive, and the wholesale prices of new items have risen significantly this past year," said Davis. "Kimi and I felt we could no longer provide a unique, fun shop due to the cost of inventory and a significant decrease in customers."

A couple of weeks ago, a member of the Waitsburg Historical Society approached Davis to ask about her plans for the unsold items after closure. Davis and Bruzas had tentatively planned to donate their remaining inventory to a couple of local charities. After hearing about the society's needs, the partners closed a few weeks early and donated over $5,000 in retail to The Waitsburg Historical Society.

"Waitsburg has been very good to us, and we wanted to give back in some way," said Bruzas. "We donated furniture, art, jewelry, dishes, and many cool tchotchkes. I hope people go to the sale and find a Gaudy Gal treasure."

The Waitsburg Historical Society maintains and manages museums at two historic homes and their surrounding grounds.

"As a non-profit organization we receive funds through donations and grants," said Deanna Tipton, the society's corresponding secretary. "We are grateful for all the donations we receive to cover the cost of insurance, maintenance, and repairs."

The society is accepting donations on Friday, September 6, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Items can be dropped off on the front lawn of the Bruce House at 318 Main Street, Waitsburg. The yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.